We are finally at the business end of the prelims, the coveted “Round-Robin stage”.
It must be said that this has been a long journey, having started the play-offs back in October 2023. We received 206 applications from Western Cape teams for the prelims, and it took us four months to get to this point.
Teams from all over the Cape Metro have campaigned for a spot in the round-robin stage, but ultimately only 24 teams qualified for their chance to tackle this final hurdle.
We wish all the remaining teams the best of luck for the weekend ahead and having seen the groups and fixtures after the draw on Monday evening, we are surely in for a football treat this weekend.
There are six groups (A-F) comprising four teams each, and ultimately the first and second placed teams from each group will progress to the Bayhill Premier Cup tournament proper which takes place over the Easter weekend at Erica Park in Belhar.
I would personally like to extend my gratitude to all the loyal supporters who have travelled to our play-off venues week after week to support the participating teams and our event.
We are nothing without our support base, and we acknowledge the impact you have on the players and teams participating. Our goal is to bring you the best organised event, uphold a high standard and deliver a premium experience for all who encounter the Bayhill Premier Cup. We are driven by the pursuit of perfection, and each year we strive to do better than the year before. Thank you for taking this journey with us!
To the teams and players that have unfortunately not made it this time round, it is not the end of the world. This is football – sometimes the best talent and preparation comes unstuck for reasons we cannot control. Players should learn from the experience and strive to do better when they get their next opportunity.
There are many events on the football calendar which are similar to the BPC, and you will get your chance. It is heartwarming to see the camaraderie amongst the participants at the Bayhill Premier Cup.
Our social media platforms have been abuzz with posts from several clubs and supporters congratulating one another and wishing the opposition well even after their teams have failed to progress. This is the spirit of football that makes all the hard work behind the scenes worthwhile.
It is frowned upon in media circles to give mentions to sponsors and partners – but we would not exist without the support and backing of our event stakeholders.
The City of Cape Town, Vodacom, Rylurx IT, Score Energy Drinks, Suitable Focus, Western Cape Sports School, SuperSport and SuperSport Schools have been long standing partners of our event and it’s because of these relationships and the value they see in our communities that our event is possible for our audience. We salute our partners and sponsors!
See you all at the William Herbert Sports complex in Wynberg this weekend. We are anxious to see which 12 teams will make it through to the Bayhill Premier Cup event proper over the Easter weekend.
Kind Regards,
Rayaan Alie
Tournament Director
BAYHILL PREMIER CUP
